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Metronet hard to take seriously, says Buswell

Robyn Preston

A map of Labor's promised Metronet that includes two new circle routes.

Labor's promised Metronet rail network needs to be backed up with details of how much it will cost before it can be taken seriously, says WA Transport Minister.

WA Treasurer and Transport Minister Troy Buswell hit back at opposition leader Mark McGowan's announcement on Sunday, casting doubt over whether there would be money for the work to go ahead.

Mr McGowan said Perth would get the new Metronet system, that includes extensions of the existing tracks and new circle lines if Labor wins the next state election.

A map of the promised Metronet system that will include extensions to the rail network and new circle lines.

"Perth is suffering a congestion crisis and our rail system is struggling to cope. Over the past eight years, the number of people boarding Perth trains has doubled,” he said.

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"Poor planning by the Barnett Government has resulted in a public transport network that can’t meet the needs of our growing city, making life harder for people living in Perth," Mr McGowan said.

The plans include a new north and south circle routes with new stations to link more Perth suburbs as well as a direct link to the airport.

Labor said they won’t reveal details on how much the project will cost or how long it will take, only that they have so far based costing on previous rail developments including the Mandurah Line, Thornlie spur line and Clarkson line extension which cost an estimated $1.6 billion.

Mr Buswell dismissed the plans without more details.

"If the Labor party want to be taken seriously as an alternate government they need to propose projects that are both deliverable and funded.

"For example recent costings provided to the government by the Perth Transport Authority, the people who build our railways, indicate the rail to the airport alone will cost in excess of $1.6 billion," Mr Buswell said.

"Clearly there is a massive funding black hole associated with this announcement.

"To have any credibility Labor needs to have their promises costed by Treasury, rather than simply making promises they will never be able to fulfil," he said.

Mr McGowan said he will announce more details following WA's mid-year review.

46 comments

Buswell is hard to take seriously!

Commenter

petehel

Location

Perth

Date and time

December 16, 2012, 9:25PM

At last.At least somebody is doing SOMETHING!!!!!!!! Thinking of SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!This is something after a governement that has done nothing for over three years.Forrest Hwy and the development of the Bunbury Region - LABORFiona Stanley - LABORMandurah Railway - LABOR. the Libs still haven't bought new trains. For goodness sake how clever do you have to be to realise that if you make the pipe bigger you need new carriage.Arena- LABOR. Bugger the cost you small minded bogans.North Bridge development - LABOR

Commenter

the spaniard

Location

perth

Date and time

December 17, 2012, 8:47AM

The Liberals promised two years .to do a feasibility study, City to Airport. So far 'nothing'.

Commenter

Bill Calcott

Location

Waroona

Date and time

December 16, 2012, 11:54PM

How can anyone take Troy seriously? Whilst not a regular Labor voter, this project will get mine definitely. At least it shows some planning for the future

Commenter

Atta

Location

Perth

Date and time

December 17, 2012, 5:53AM

Planning, what planning! Its got to be the worst thought-out rail plan I've seen put forward. Even the Greens proposals have more credibility than this one. A trainline to Ellenbrook is an absolute waste of money. It will cost a fortune and have very low patronage and is simply a political exercise to pick up that seat. It will only be halfway viable one theres infill between the existing suburbs and Ellenbrook. And the circlelines, how many people will really use these? Sure it'd be great, it we had the money to burn, but we don't so the money should go where it provides maximum benefit, not all this pie-in-the-sky dreams. What a joke!

Commenter

wee

Date and time

December 17, 2012, 3:41PM

Labor better make sure there is enough parking at stations before expanding the existing network. What a balls-up they caused when the southern rail link was constructed. After 8am, forget about even trying to get parking at Bullcreek and Murdoch. This is typical though bubble stuff from McGowan. It is far easier and cheaper to drive a rail line down an existing freeway reserve than to deal with connecting road network infrastructure running along the entire length of the proposed new routes.

Commenter

Mike

Location

Perth

Date and time

December 17, 2012, 6:32AM

When WA Labor built the Mandurah line the Liberals claimed no one would use it, now the complaint is not enough parking. This is why we had commenced building more parking when we lost office.The new stations on METRONET will all have car parking. Lots of the people currently parking at exisitng Stations will use thes new car parks. This should free up bays at existing Stations.

Commenter

Ken Travers

Date and time

December 17, 2012, 7:28AM

METRONET uses existing Freeway and rail reserves.

Commenter

Ken Travers

Date and time

December 17, 2012, 7:30AM

Ken. I work in the road infrastructure industry. I know what is lacking, I see the expansion issues that running rail down narrow road reserves results in. I see the parking issues along the southern link every day. for Bullcreek in particular, the only way to increase parking is multistory adding more pain to parking owes whilst that is being constructed. Are you grade separating ALL the level crossings along the routes? Does that grade separation take into account land required for ramps and linkages? I look forward to seeing the detail and the costings.

Commenter

Mike

Location

Perth

Date and time

December 17, 2012, 9:36AM

Can't people walk a couple of km to their nearest station? Take a look at major Melbourne train stations, barely a carpark in sight. People are so lazy.